WORD BUILDING BLOCKS
This word part, usually the vowel "o," connects a root to a suffix or to another root.
What is a combining vowel?
This body system includes the heart and blood vessels and circulates blood.
What is the cardiovascular system?
This specialist treats conditions of the skin.
Who is a dermatologist?
What is the plural form of "bacterium"?
What is bacteria?
A term meaning "inflammation of the liver." What is it?
What is hepatitis?
In the term "hepatitis," identify the root and what it means.
What is hepat- (liver)?
This body system includes glands like the thyroid and pancreas and regulates hormones.
What is the endocrine system?
This specialist treats diseases of the blood.
Who is a hematologist?
What is the plural form of "vertebra"?
What is vertebrae?
A term meaning "surgical removal of the gallbladder." What is it?
What is a cholecystectomy?
In the term "osteoarthritis," what does the root "arthr" mean?
What is joint?
This system filters waste from the blood and produces urine.
What is the urinary system?
This specialist studies and treats tumors and cancer.
Who is an oncologist?
What is the plural form of "diagnosis"?
What is diagnoses?
A term meaning "enlargement of the heart." What is it?
What is cardiomegaly?
This term describes a suffix that turns a root into an adjective rather than a noun — examples include -al, -ic, and -ous.
What is an adjectival suffix?
This system includes the spleen, lymph nodes, and thymus, and helps defend the body against pathogens.
What is the lymphatic (immune) system?
This specialist treats disorders of the endocrine system, such as diabetes and thyroid disease.
Who is an endocrinologist?
What is the plural form of "phalanx"?
What is phalanges?
A patient with a history of heart failure has dyspnea, tachycardia, and swelling in the legs. What is the term for fluid buildup in the lungs in this context?
What is pulmonary edema?
A term is built from the parts "tachy-" + "pne" + "-a." Break it down and explain the condition.
What is tachypnea — tachy- (fast) + pne (breathing) + -a (condition) = abnormally rapid breathing?
A patient presents with a butterfly-shaped facial rash, joint pain, fatigue, and photosensitivity; bloodwork shows autoantibodies attacking multiple organs. Which body system is malfunctioning, and what disease is suspected?
What is the immune system, and what is lupus (systemic lupus erythematosus)?
A patient has chronic joint swelling, morning stiffness lasting over an hour, and a positive rheumatoid factor on bloodwork. Which specialist should they see, and what's the likely diagnosis?
Who is a rheumatologist, for rheumatoid arthritis?
What is the plural form of "thorax," AND what is the singular form of "ova"?
What is thoraces, and what is ovum?
Chart note: "Pt presents with hematuria, dysuria, and flank pain radiating to the groin; CT reveals a 6mm calculus in the left ureter." What is the diagnosis, and what does "calculus" refer to here?
What is a kidney stone (nephrolithiasis/ureterolithiasis), where "calculus" is the stone itself?